The director called,“Cut!”for the third time,but Darius,my celebrity husband,remained locked in a passionate kiss with Seraphina. The crew stood frozen,tension thick in the air. I stepped forward,keeping my voice steady."Darius,we're done for today.Wrap it up." Seraphina pulled away,tears glistening in her eyes.“I’m just so deep into this role,”she sobbed,clutching Darius’s arm. I forced a smile.Darius’s eyes flickered with irritation as he turned to me.“Lyanna,you have no right to interfere.You see filth in everything.Can’t you just trust me?” The sting of his words barely registered. I had already seen the paparazzi photos—him and Seraphina entering a five-star hotel together that night. The marriage I had spent five years protecting was over. I just hadn’t signed the papers yet. After a quick call to my lawyer,I returned to the lounge. Darius walked in shortly after. His face softened when he saw me—for a second. Then his gaze turned cold. “Lyanna,this lounge is for lead actors.Why are you here?” I grabbed the thermos from the makeup table,my voice flat.“Just getting my stuff.” He hadn’t touched the meal I made him.Not a single bite. “Don’t bother making food for me anymore,”he muttered.“It’s unpalatable.” In the past,I would have argued,reminded him how he used to love my cooking.But this time,I just nodded.“Hmm.”Then I walked out the door. Darius called after me,irritation laced in his voice.“There’s a crew dinner tonight.The director wants me to discuss the script with Seraphina.” I didn’t miss the guilt in his tone.“Okay,”I said,closing the door behind me. Later that night,he came home around 1 AM.I wasn’t waiting for him like before. He pushed open the bedroom door,frowning.“Lyanna,I have trouble sleeping.Why didn’t you brew my calming tea?” I pulled the blanket over my head.“Ran out of tea leaves last night.Order takeout.” The door slammed shut behind him as he stormed into the study. In the past,I would have stayed up,apologizing.But this time,I let him be. The next morning,Darius allowed me to ride in the van with him to the set. It was unusual.I should have known something was coming. As we pulled up,Seraphina approached. She was dressed in a backless,low-cut dress,her every movement calculated. “Darius,do you have any bug spray?I always attract mosquitoes,”she purred. Then she saw me.Her expression shifted.“Oh,Lyanna,you’re here too?I’d better take the other car.” Before she could move,Darius spoke,his tone sharp.“Lyanna,can’t you be sensible?Stop causing trouble.Go sit in the assistant’s car.” I didn’t argue.I simply stepped out.My movements were slow,controlled. As I walked away,I felt his gaze on me.A few minutes later,my phone buzzed. A message from Darius: Today,Seraphina will have a scene where she shows her legs.Don’t misunderstand. I stared at the screen for a moment before typing back: Understood. The day dragged on.By the time filming wrapped at 11 PM,I was exhausted.Then—disaster. The scaffolding collapsed.I watched as Darius shoved Seraphina out of harm’s way.They fell,tangled together—lips colliding. The crew cheered,mistaking it for part of the scene. I stood frozen,my wolf stirring within me,urging me to claim what was mine. But I held back. I didn’t have to fight. Because Darius had already made his choice.
I had been away on business for years,focusing on the needs of my pack and family. But when I heard that Darius,my son,got married,I dropped everything and rushed back home. That night,Darius posted a series of photos on Facebook from our reunion dinner. The caption read,"You've been by my side all the way.Thank you,the most important woman in my life."It seemed harmless enough,but Lyanna,Darius’s mate,mistook me for someone entirely different. The next morning,I stepped into the beauty salon,needing a moment of peace after my long flight. I barely had time to sit before the doors burst open. Lyanna strode in,flanked by her packmates,her wolf barely restrained beneath her skin. Her voice sliced through the air like a blade.“You shameless woman!” The other customers went silent.The staff froze.I slowly turned,meeting her burning gaze. “You dare seduce my mate?”she spat,stepping forward. Her fingers curled into fists,nails elongating slightly. Her packmates stood behind her,their presence a silent but clear threat. I blinked,confusion flickering through me.“Excuse me?” Lyanna’s eyes darkened.“Don’t play innocent.You think I don’t know?Sneaking into his life,taking pictures,making him post about you?” Realization hit me.Darius’s Facebook post. I exhaled sharply.“I think there’s been a misunderstanding—” “There’s no misunderstanding,”she cut in.“I’ll make sure you never seduce another man again.” Her packmates moved at her command. One lunged forward,claws extended. Instinct kicked in,and I dodged,but another caught my arm,nails raking across my skin. A sharp pain burned through me. The salon erupted into chaos.Customers screamed. Staff backed away,too afraid to intervene. I gritted my teeth. My wolf stirred,but I was exhausted from travel,weakened. Lyanna’s laughter rang out as she stepped closer,her heel pressing against my shoulder,shoving me down. “You think Darius could ever fall for you?”she sneered. My blood boiled.I wanted to fight,to push back—but I was outnumbered.The odds weren’t in my favor. And this was their territory. Lyanna had made sure of that. Then a presence filled the room.A familiar power.Strong.Commanding. Darius. The air shifted instantly as he stepped inside. His gaze swept over the scene,his Alpha aura tightening around the space.Pack members stiffened,recognizing the shift in dominance. Lyanna turned,a smug smile on her lips.“See?”she taunted.“This is the woman you’re choosing over me.” Darius’s expression was unreadable. His wolf flickered behind his eyes,sensing the tension. Then he spoke,voice even,but firm.“The engagement banquet may end now.” A beat of silence. Lyanna’s confidence wavered.“What?” “You heard me.”His tone was final. Lyanna’s face twisted with fury.“You’re breaking off our engagement?Over this—this woman?!” Darius’s gaze flickered to me. For the first time in years,his expression softened—if only briefly. Then his walls came back up.“You’ve gone too far.” Lyanna’s hands clenched at her sides.“Darius,I did this for us!She’s trying to take you away—” “I said enough.” His voice echoed through the salon,silencing her. Lyanna trembled with rage,but she knew better than to challenge his authority here. Not in front of everyone. She turned on her heel and stormed out,her packmates following. The tension in the room didn’t ease until they were gone. Darius looked at me.“Are you alright?” I hesitated.Then nodded.“I’ll survive.” His jaw tightened.“I’ll handle this.” I didn’t respond.Because deep down,I knew—this wasn’t over.Not even close. That night,I sat in my temporary home,staring at the untouched dinner before me. The day replayed in my mind,Lyanna’s words,Darius’s reaction. A knock on the door broke the silence. I opened it to find Darius standing there,his expression unreadable. “Can we talk?” I stepped aside,letting him in. He took a deep breath.“Lyanna misunderstood who you were.” I crossed my arms.“No kidding.” “She’s…possessive,”he admitted.“The bond between us—it’s always been complicated.” I studied him.“Then why stay with her?” His jaw tightened.“Because it was expected.Because it was convenient.Because I thought it was the right thing to do.” “And now?” His eyes met mine.“Now,I’m not so sure.” A beat of silence stretched between us. I exhaled,shaking my head.“Darius,I didn’t come here to break you two apart.” “I know.”He stepped closer.“But that doesn’t change things.” I could hear his wolf in his voice.A deep,lingering growl,something primal,something unresolved. I swallowed hard.“Darius—” He reached out,gently brushing his fingers against the wound on my arm.“She hurt you.” “I’ve had worse.” “That’s not the point.”His gaze darkened.“She crossed a line.” Silence. I looked away.“What happens now?” Darius was quiet for a long moment.Then he said,“I don’t know.” And for the first time,I saw the hesitation in his eyes. The weight of years. The burden of choices that could no longer be ignored. The engagement was over. But the war had only just begun.
The slap hit hard,sharper than I expected,and the sting of it spread across my face like fire. The pain from the impact was intense,but what hurt more was the humiliation—the laughter of the guests around me,the cruel whispers filling the air. "Look at this,the mistress getting slapped by the legitimate mate,"one voice sneered,its tone full of contempt. "She seems so well-mannered.Who would think she’d sink so low?"another voice mocked,though I could hear the smug satisfaction beneath it. I gritted my teeth,my wolf howling inside me,ready to tear through the room and silence them all. But I held back. I had to hold back. The last thing I wanted was to give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. "Lyanna,you misunderstood,"I managed to say,my voice shaking with the effort to keep calm."I’m not—" But I didn’t get a chance to finish. Lyanna,her wolf clearly in control now,grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked me down to the ground,her claws digging into my scalp. Her packmates surged forward,joining her in their aggression. I could feel their strength,their loyalty to her fueling their violence,each blow like a dagger aimed not just at my body,but at my spirit. The pain blurred my vision. I could barely breathe,the strikes coming from every direction,my body trembling as it fought to withstand the onslaught. "You slut!"Lyanna spat,her voice venomous,laced with the harsh growl of her wolf."How dare you seduce my mate?If you’re not his mistress,then why do you know my name,huh?Tell me that!" The words cut through me like ice.Her mate? I didn’t know how to answer. The bond between Darius and Lyanna was...complex,confusing. But in this moment,it didn’t matter. "I told you,I’m not his mistress!"I cried out,my voice raw."Ask Darius yourself.He knows the truth." But she didn’t care. Lyanna wasn’t listening. She pulled me by my hair again,forcing me to the ground as her packmates punched and kicked me. "You really think you have a chance?"Lyanna sneered,her eyes wild with fury."A lowly woman like you?Don’t think for a second that Darius will ever choose you over me.I’ll make sure of it.When I marry into a rich family,I’ll make you regret ever crossing me.I’ll sell you to a brothel,let you serve hundreds of men—let everyone have their turn with you!" Her words were cruel,meant to break me,and for a moment,I felt my spirit falter. But my wolf refused to let her win. I clenched my fists,forcing myself to focus. I wasn’t just some weak woman she could trample on. I tried again."Lyanna—Lyanna,please...I’m telling you the truth.I’m not his mistress.Darius—" "Shut up!"she yelled,her voice rising with each word,the fury of her inner wolf palpable."You filthy slut.You’ll never admit what you really are,will you?You're nothing to Darius.You’re just some woman who thinks she can play in a world she doesn’t belong in." I didn’t know what to say. Was it really over? Had Darius already chosen her?T he doubt gnawed at me,but I refused to let it show. I couldn’t. "Later,"Lyanna said with a sneer,"I’ll take you to the engagement banquet.We’ll see who Darius chooses.You,or me.You’ll never belong in his world." The words hit me harder than the blows. She was right. I would never belong in his world. Lyanna’s pack had claimed their place,and my presence,my bond with Darius,meant nothing to them. But the worst part was hearing the vicious laughter around me. The crowd had gathered,eager to witness the spectacle. "Take her clothes off,"Lyanna’s friend shouted."Let’s see if she has any shame left." I was overwhelmed. They tore at my clothes,pulling at the fabric until my dress was ripped apart,exposing my skin. Blood mixed with the tears on my face as I struggled to cover myself,my dignity slipping further from my grasp. The pain was unbearable,but it wasn’t the physical pain that broke me—it was the way they gawked at me. They were enjoying this.The guests,the packmates,all of them. My suffering was entertainment for them. I cried out in desperation,clutching what remained of my dress around me.But I was too weak to fight them off. Too small.There were too many of them. The pain blurred my senses. I could feel my wolf pushing against the restraints,desperate to break free. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t let them win. But just as I was losing myself to the darkness,I saw something. My mind was clouded,my vision spinning,but I saw her—Lyanna. She was pulling out her phone,capturing every moment. "Your reputation is ruined,"she said,her words filled with malice,her wolf’s growl low and threatening."No one will ever believe you now." But just as the last shred of my dignity was being ripped away,I gathered my strength."Lyanna,"I cried,"I am Darius’s mother!" The room went silent for a moment. I could see the shock in Lyanna’s eyes as she looked down at me,the confusion and uncertainty flickering behind her cold gaze. "His...what?"she whispered,a flicker of doubt flashing across her face. For the first time since this nightmare began,I saw a crack in her armor. My wolf growled softly,and I could feel Darius’s presence,faint but there,his bond with me pulsing in the back of my mind. But Lyanna wasn’t going to let go so easily. "Don’t lie,"she spat,but there was hesitation now in her voice. I could see it now. She was afraid.She had believed she had everything under control,but I wasn’t just a mere woman. I was the Alpha’s mate.Darius’s mother. "I swear,"I said,my voice shaky but firm."I am Darius’s mother.And I will not let you tear our family apart." Lyanna’s expression darkened. "We’ll see about that,"she said,her tone low and threatening. But I didn’t care anymore. This wasn’t just about us anymore—it was about Darius. And whatever happened next,I was going to fight. I would not let her break me.
Darius stormed into the hall,his aura suffocating. The entire pack went silent. Lyanna froze,her hand still tangled in my torn dress. "What the hell is going on?"Darius’s voice was low,but the growl in it sent shivers through the crowd. Lyanna straightened,chin high."She’s a liar.A fraud!She claims to be your mother." Darius's gaze snapped to me."Is that true?" I wiped the blood from my lips."Yes.I am your mother." Gasps rippled through the room.Lyanna’s expression twisted in disbelief. Darius took a step toward me."Prove it." I pulled out a pendant from under my ripped dress. A silver wolf,identical to the one hanging around his neck. His fingers curled into fists. "Where did you get that?"His voice was dangerously soft. "Your father gave it to me.When we were mates.Before...before everything was taken from us." Silence.Then,Lyanna laughed,sharp and cruel."She’s lying!Anyone could have that pendant." Darius ignored her. He took the pendant from my palm,his fingers brushing against mine. The touch sent a jolt through my wolf,the bond between mother and son undeniable.His brows furrowed. "Why now?"His voice was rough,guarded."Why come back now?" I swallowed hard."Because I had no choice.Because I thought you deserved the truth." Lyanna stepped forward,grabbing his arm."Darius,don’t let her manipulate you.She’s here to destroy us.She wants to take you away from me!" His eyes flicked to her,cold and unyielding."Take me away?From what,Lyanna?This?"He gestured to the torn remains of my dress,the bruises on my skin."You humiliated her.Attacked her.If she is my mother,you’ve just assaulted an Alpha’s mate." Lyanna paled."I-I didn’t know—" "You didn’t care,"he snapped."All you saw was a threat to your position." She tightened her grip on him."I did this for us!For the pack!She’s a stranger,Darius.She abandoned you!" I flinched."I never abandoned him.He was taken from me." Darius’s breath hitched."Taken?" I nodded."Your father lied to you.He told you I was dead,didn’t he?That I left?" His silence confirmed it. "I searched for you.For years.But by the time I found out where you were,you were already Alpha,and Lyanna...she was by your side." Darius clenched his jaw.His entire body was trembling.Then,he turned to Lyanna."Leave." She stiffened."What?" "I said,leave." "Darius—" "Go.Before I make you regret everything you’ve done." Lyanna’s lips parted,as if she wanted to argue,but the look in his eyes silenced her. She spun on her heel and stormed out,her packmates hesitating before scrambling to follow. The room was silent.I stood there,my breath unsteady. Darius turned back to me,his gaze unreadable."Come with me." He led me out of the banquet hall,away from the eyes of the pack.We walked in silence until we reached his private quarters. He closed the door behind us and exhaled."Tell me everything." So I did.About his father. About the lies. About the years I spent searching for him. He listened,jaw tight,fists clenched. When I finished,he looked at me for a long moment."You should have told me sooner." "Would you have believed me?" He hesitated.Then,finally,he sighed."I don’t know." I placed a hand on his arm."I know I can’t change the past.But I want to be here now.If you’ll let me." He didn’t answer right away.Then,his hand covered mine."We’ll see." It wasn’t forgiveness.But it was a start.
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